NJ Justices Say Schools Can Be Liable For Sexual Abuse

By George Woolston

The New Jersey Supreme Court said Wednesday that schools can be held liable for alleged acts of child sexual abuse committed outside the scope of a teacher's employment, and outlined the standard for establishing such a claim.

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

2nd Circ. Spurns DOT Bid To Re-Freeze Hudson Tunnel Funds

By Linda Chiem

The Second Circuit on Wednesday rejected the Trump administration's bid to again freeze federal payments to New York and New Jersey for the ongoing $16 billion rehabilitation of aging commuter train tunnels under the Hudson River.

Order attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Hard Rock, Other Casinos Kept Illegal Tip Pools, Dealers Say

By Gina Kim

Bally's, Hard Rock, Borgata and Tropicana were hit with proposed class and collective actions Tuesday in New Jersey federal court by dealers who alleged the Atlantic City-based casinos paid less than minimum wage to tipped employees and illegally required them to pool tips, in violation of federal and state wage laws. 

4 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Union Claims NJ Hospital Broke State Law In Layoffs

By Katherine Smith

An American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees local has accused a New Jersey hospital of violating state law by abruptly closing most of its facility in November without giving proper notice, in a complaint in New Jersey state court.

Complaint attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Sales Agents Showed Insurance Co. Willfully Flouted FLSA

By Irene Spezzamonte

Sales agents supported their claims that an insurance marketing and sales organization willfully violated the Fair Labor Standards Act, a New Jersey federal judge ruled, applying a longer statute of limitations to the workers' claims for unpaid wages.

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Feature

Exxon Cements Texas As Delaware's Emerging Rival

By Spencer Brewer

Last year, Vinson & Elkins partner Katherine Frank fielded about one call a week from companies thinking about redomiciling in Texas. Speaking to Law360 the day after ExxonMobil announced its plan to reincorporate in the Lone Star State due to its business-forward courts and policies, Frank said the callers fell into three categories.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

17 States Fight 'Unprecedented' WH Admissions Data Demand

By Julie Manganis

A coalition of more than a dozen states led by Massachusetts asked a federal judge Wednesday to block enforcement of a new Trump administration requirement to retroactively report detailed data on sex and race in college admissions, saying the survey was hastily implemented and rife with issues that expose schools to potential liability.

Complaint attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Firm Doesn't Owe Ex-Managing Atty Fees In Client Luring Suit

By Mike Curley

A New Jersey state appeals court rejected a request Wednesday for sanctions and attorney fees by an attorney formerly with the Law Offices of Gary S. Park PC, saying the firm's amended complaint alleging she lured away clients was not filed to harass her.

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Pharma Co. Says Ex-Director Using Trade Secrets At New Job

By Elliot Weld

A specialty infusion therapy pharmacy has accused a former director of contracts of taking valuable trade secrets with her on her way out to work for a rival company.

Complaint attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Hedge Fund Founder's Wife Can Expand Seward & Kissel Suit

By Jake Maher

The estranged wife of billionaire hedge fund founder John Overdeck won approval from a New Jersey state court to file an amended complaint broadening her ongoing malpractice case against Seward & Kissel LLP.

Order attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

PNC Bank, Coin Dealer Sued Over $400K Elder Fraud Loss

By Sydney Price

PNC Bank and New Jersey-based precious metals dealer American Coin & Stamp Co. Inc. have been hit with a retiree's complaint accusing them of ignoring red flags in an elder financial exploitation scheme, which involved the plaintiff handing over nearly $400,000 in gold coins directly to scammers.

Complaint attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

White & Case Blasts Bid To Quit CBRM Ch. 11

By Emily Lever

The troubled tale of New Jersey-based apartment building owner CBRM Realty Inc. has taken another turn as White & Case LLP objected to a move by the debtor's wind-down officer to resign.

1 document attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Del Monte's Minority Lenders Say Ch. 11 Plan Unfair

By Rick Archer

A minority group of lenders to Del Monte Foods are objecting to the canned food giant's Chapter 11 plan disclosures, saying the disclosure is uninformative and the proposed plan hopelessly unfair to their interests.

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

McCarter & English Adds NJ Lobbyist To Gov't Affairs Group

By Jake Maher

McCarter & English LLP expanded its government affairs practice group this week with a lobbyist with experience as a staff member in the New Jersey Assembly, including time as chief of staff for then-Assemblymember Angela McKnight.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Ex-DOJ Atty Who Said 'This Job Sucks' Running For Congress

By Courtney Bublé

The former federal government lawyer detailed to Minnesota to help with immigration cases who last month told a federal judge "this job sucks" says she is running for Congress in the state.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

$600M IP Award, Quinn Emanuel Contempt Faulted On Appeal

By Ryan Davis

The Federal Circuit on Wednesday vacated a verdict against the maker of Norton antivirus software for infringing Columbia University patents and reversed a contempt ruling against Norton's former law firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP that had caused the judgment to grow to just over $600 million.

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Firm Probed In $4B LA Sex Abuse Deal Hit With UPL Charges

By Rachel Rippetoe

A co-founder of the Los Angeles personal injury firm facing investigation for its involvement in a record $4 billion sex abuse settlement against Los Angeles County was hit with disciplinary charges by the California State Bar, alleging the firm illegally practiced law outside the state.

Complaint attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Analysis

Trump Cybercrime Order Creates New Compliance To-Do List

By Phillip Bantz

President Donald Trump's recent executive order calling for a coalition of government agencies to combat cybercrime is far more forceful than efforts under prior administrations, according to white collar lawyers, who tentatively applaud the proposal while warning it could raise new compliance risks.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

3 Attys Escape Ford's 'Retaliatory' Lemon Law RICO Suit

By Linda Chiem

A California federal judge has shut down Ford Motor Co.'s revised racketeering lawsuit accusing three attorneys affiliated with Knight Law Group LLP of orchestrating a massive fraudulent legal billing scheme, saying the attorneys' underlying conduct in pursuing lemon law litigation is shielded by First Amendment protections.

Order attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Judges, Lawmakers Urge 4th Circ. To Affirm Halligan Ruling

By Ryan Boysen

Members of Congress and former federal judges have urged the Fourth Circuit to affirm that Lindsey Halligan was not properly appointed as the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, saying the episode exemplifies why there are guardrails against installing political loyalists as federal prosecutors.

5 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

VA, DOJ Cut Deal To Make Attys Mental Health Guardians

By Mark Payne

Under a new initiative, attorneys at the U.S. Department of Justice will serve as legal guardians for some homeless veterans, the Trump administration announced on Wednesday, though some veterans advocates expressed concern that the new program could involuntarily coerce veterans experiencing mental health issues into institutional care.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »